The number one cause of bacterial contamination in a commercial kitchen is from person-to-person contact via dirty hands. One way to protect the ice from your employees’ hands is by dishing it out with a scoop specifically designed for scooping ice. These plastic scoops have a wider shovel to prevent ice from spilling as well as a two guards around the handle. One is between the ice in the scoop and the employee’s hand. The other is at the base of the scoop and protects the ice that is still in the bin.
To safely transport large quantities of ice, there are specially designed totes. These totes feature a molded gripping handle on the base that does not contact the floor, so the employee’s hand stays clean when gripping the bottom for overhead pouring. The ice totes also have a special hanging hook so they can be hung upside down after use and cleaning. This prevents water from pooling in the bottom and harboring bacteria.